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With no end to the cold in sight, going to the movies is very tempting, but the big-budget family film options... not so much. They're expensive (especially those 3D releases), and winter is the traditional dumping ground for duds. Luckily, you don't have to resort to the regular box office choices in New York City. The upcoming BAMkids Film Festival and New York International Children's Film Festival showcase international and offbeat shorts and features, while Film Forum Jr. screens cool classics every Sunday morning. Plus, the ticket prices are a lot less—most are under $15 per person.

Here are ten cinema series where you and your kids can rediscover the magic of movies. Don't forget to check out our post about where to see free and cheap kids' movies, too.

As the winter weather sets in, you might find yourself daydreaming of a tropical vacation. Alas, the economy still got your wallet? No problem! You can still give the kids and yourself a well-deserved break with a good old-fashioned "playcation" right here in New York City.

Take a day and go visit these play-friendly stores, without having to spend a cent. Do anything from shooting hoops to playing a tune on a giant piano, and maybe even get a little exercise in on the Wii Fit. The kids will be so exhausted by day's end, they might not even whine about not getting their own Nintendo system (fingers crossed).

As always, if an event piques your interest, be sure to click through to our listing for all the details, including address and time. And keep in mind: In NYC, really cool things to do with kids often get booked up quickly. So buy your tickets ASAP or, in the case of FREE events, arrive as early as possible to try to beat the crowds.

So get out your calendar: Here are the top 12 things to do with kids in New York City this February.

We're having a big blizzard (supposedly) here on the east coast, but even if you live in warmer climates, you can have a bit of winter fun with this super simple ice experiment. Melting ice with salt is an easy activity that even a preschool scientist (or future Snow Queen) can undertake. Children will delight watching how the salt melts the ice -- and can try to make sculptures, too. Don't let the cold weather bother you; experimenting with these frozen fractals indoors is a lot of fun!

Whenever the weatherman predicts a big snow, you can almost hear the collective cries of joy from children, and the sighs of resignation from the adults who know they’re going to have stir crazy kids at home to deal with. Somehow the initial excitement always seems to wear off way too early in the day, leaving hours still to be filled. Before your brood drives you batty, scan through this list of things to do. We think you’ll find enough ideas to keep them happily entertained until the school bus pulls up again. Have fun and good luck!

Think your kids can only play arena games like laser tag and paintball in the 'burbs? Well, think again. Queens' Indoor Extreme Sports, a massive, labyrinthine athletic facility housed in an old warehouse, offers multiple kinds of laser tag, no-mess reball paintball and archery tag, which are all incredibly fun for school-age kids—not to mention grown-ups. (My tweenage kid, husband and I had such a blast playing together we decided to have my son's 10th birthday here!) Suiting up, grabbing your gear and hitting the battlefield feels like entering a real-life video game. It's an awesome way for the whole family to get active, especially in the dead of winter.

Indoor Extreme Sports is currently the only facility of its kind in NYC (though the owners are planning to open a second location on Staten Island this spring). We've got the scoop on all the games the spot has to offer along with important tips for making the most of your visit.

While NYC public schools rarely close, private schools and nursery schools close much more often. It's important to be able to find out if your child's school will be open before you head out the door (calling may not work since no one may be there!) Here are the best resources I've found for finding out if New York City schools are closing for a snow day, as well as ideas for what to do in the event of snowmageddon, like NYC's top sledding hills and fun indoor activities.

Yes a blizzard is coming, but you can't spend the whole weekend holed up indoors (although that may be a good idea on Monday or Tuesday if possible). The last week of January brings mostly FREE and fun activities for all ages, from interactive music classes for tots to no-cost admission at the the Museum of Mathematics to a complimentary Winter Carnival at Bryant Park.